Systems, methods, and computer program products for transmitting neural signal information

Abstract

Systems, Methods, and Computer Program Products for Transmitting Neural Signal Information. Systems, method, and computer program products are provided for neural signal transmission. A system according to one embodiment can include a signal receiver operable to receive a neural signal comprising an action potential. The system can also include an action potential detector operable to communicate with the signal receiver and detect when the action potential occurs. In addition, the system can include a transmitter in communication with the action potential detector and operable to transmit an information signal indicating the time when the action potential occurs and, in addition, can transmit samples associated with a detected action potential.

1. A neural signal transmission system, comprising:
 (a) a signal receiver operable to receive a neural signal comprising an action potential, the neural signal represented by n-bit data samples; 
 (b) an action potential detector operable to communicate with the signal receiver, operable to determine an optimal range for the received neural signal, operable to select a subset of bits of the n-bit data samples based on the optimal range, operable to calculate a threshold value based on the neural signal, operable to compare the threshold value to the subset of bits of the neural signal, and operable to detect when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the subset of bits of the neural signal; and 
 (c) a transmitter in communication with the action potential detector and operable to transmit an information signal indicating the time when the action potential occurs. 
 
     
     
       2. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the signal receiver is a neural sensor selected from the group consisting of electrodes, magnetic field detectors, and chemical sensors. 
     
     
       3. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of signal receivers operable to receive a plurality of neural signals, wherein each signal receiver is associated with one of a plurality of channels. 
     
     
       4. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 3  wherein the transmitter is operable to transmit a header associated with the action potential, wherein the header indicates the channel associated with the neural signal comprising the detected action potential. 
     
     
       5. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector is operable to transmit a header associated with the action potential, wherein the header comprises a timestamp indicating a time when the action potential occurs. 
     
     
       6. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector comprises a memory for storing samples of the neural signal. 
     
     
       7. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 6  wherein the stored samples are a predetermined number of samples including the action potential of the neural signal. 
     
     
       8. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 7  wherein a header associated with each neural signal indicates a channel associated with the neural signal. 
     
     
       9. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 6  wherein the action potential detector is operable to determine an absolute value of one of the samples of the neural signal. 
     
     
       10. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 9  wherein the action potential detector is operable to compare the absolute value to the threshold value. 
     
     
       11. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 10  wherein the action potential detector detects an action potential when the absolute value is greater than the threshold value. 
     
     
       12. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 10  wherein the action potential detector detects a first action potential after a refractory period expires since a second action potential, wherein the second action potential occurs prior to the first action potential and on the same channel. 
     
     
       13. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  comprising a conditioning unit operable to condition the neural signal. 
     
     
       14. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 13  wherein condition is a function selected from the group consisting of amplify, filter, multiplex, and digitize. 
     
     
       15. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  comprising a station operable to receive the information signal for controlling a device selected from the group consisting of an actuator, a prosthetic device, and a computer system. 
     
     
       16. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector Is operable to:
 (i) determine a mean of absolute values of samples of the neural signal; and 
 (ii) set the threshold value a scaled value of the determined mean. 
 
     
     
       17. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 16  wherein the action potential detector Is operable to periodically determine the mean and set the threshold value. 
     
     
       18. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector Is operable to:
 (i) determine a mean of absolute values of derivatives of samples of the neural signal; and 
 (ii) set the threshold value as a scaled value of the determined mean. 
 
     
     
       19. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector is operable to determine when a value of the neural signal exceeds the threshold value to detect when the action potential occurs. 
     
     
       20. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector is operable to compare the threshold value to an absolute value of the neural signal, and operable to detect when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the absolute value of the neural signal. 
     
     
       21. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the action potential detector is operable to compare the threshold value to an absolute value of derivatives of the neural signal, and operable to detect when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the absolute value of the derivatives of the neural signal. 
     
     
       22. The neural signal transmission system of  claim 1  wherein the transmitter is operable to wirelessly transmit the information signal. 
     
     
       23. A method for transmitting a neural signal, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a neural signal comprising an action potential, the neural signal represented by n-bit data samples; 
 (b) determining an optimal range for the received neural signal; 
 (c) selecting a subset of bits of the n-bit data samples based on the optimal range; 
 (d) calculating a threshold value based on the neural signal; 
 (e) comparing the threshold value to the subset of bits of the neural signal; 
 (f) detecting when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the subset of bits of the neural signal; and 
 (g) transmitting an information signal indicating the time when the action potential occurs. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23  wherein receiving a neural signal includes receiving the neural signal from a neural sensor. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23  comprising receiving a plurality of neural signals, wherein each signal is associated with one of a plurality of channels. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  comprising transmitting a header associated with the action potential, wherein the header indicates the channel associated with the neural signal comprising the detected action potential. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23  comprising transmitting a header associated with the action potential, wherein the header comprises a timestamp indicating a time when the action potential occurs. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 23  comprising storing samples of the neural signal. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28  wherein the stored samples are a predetermined number of samples including the action potential of the neural signal. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29  wherein a header associated with each neural signal indicates a channel associated with the neural signal. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 28  comprising determining an absolute value of one of the samples of the neural signal. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31  comprising comparing the absolute value to the threshold value. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32  comprising detecting an action potential when the absolute value is greater than the threshold value. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32  comprising detecting a first action potential after a refractory period expires since a second action potential, wherein the second action potential occurs prior to the first action potential and on the same channel. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 23  comprising conditioning the neural signal. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35  wherein the conditioning is a function selected from the group consisting of amplify, filter, multiplex, and digitize. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 23  comprising receiving the information signal for controlling a device selected from the group consisting of an actuator, a prosthetic device, and a computer system. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 23  wherein calculating a threshold value based on the neural signal comprises:
 (i) determining a mean of absolute values of samples of the neural signal; and 
 (ii) setting the threshold value as a scaled value of the determined mean. 
 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38  comprising periodically determining the mean and setting the threshold value. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 23  wherein calculating a threshold value based on the neural signal comprises:
 (i) determining a mean of absolute values of derivatives of samples of the neural signal; and 
 (ii) setting the threshold value as a scaled value of the determined mean. 
 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 23  comprising determining when a value of the neural signal exceeds the threshold value to detect when the action potential occurs. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 23  wherein comparing the threshold value to the neural signal comprises comparing the threshold value to an absolute value of the neural signal, and wherein detecting when the action potential occurs comprises detecting when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the absolute value of the neural signal. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 23  wherein comparing the threshold value to the neural signal comprises comparing the threshold value to an absolute value of derivatives of the neural signal, and wherein detecting when the action potential occurs comprises detecting when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the absolute value of the derivatives of the neural signal. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 23  wherein transmitting an information signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the information signal. 
     
     
       45. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:
 (a) receiving a neural signal comprising an action potential, the neural signal represented by n-bit data samples 
 (b) determining an optimal range for the received neural signal; 
 (c) selecting a subset of bits of the n-bit data samples based on the optimal range; 
 (d) calculating a threshold value based on the neural signal; 
 (e) comparing the threshold value to the subset of bits of the neural signal; 
 (f) detecting when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the subset of bits of the neural signal; and 
 (g) transmitting an information signal indicating the time when the action potential occurs. 
 
     
     
       46. The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein receiving a neural signal includes receiving the neural signal from a neural sensor. 
     
     
       47. The computer program product of  claim 45  comprising receiving a plurality of neural signals, wherein each signal is associated with one of a plurality of channels. 
     
     
       48. The computer program product of  claim 47  comprising transmitting a header associated with the action potential, wherein the header indicates the channel associated with the neural signal comprising the detected action potential. 
     
     
       49. The computer program product of  claim 45  comprising transmitting a header associated with the action potential, wherein the header comprises a timestamp indicating a time when the action potential occurs. 
     
     
       50. The computer program product of  claim 45  comprising storing samples of the neural signal. 
     
     
       51. The computer program product of  claim 50  wherein the stored samples are a predetermined number of samples including the action potential of the neural signal. 
     
     
       52. The computer program product of  claim 51  wherein a header associated with each neural signal indicates a channel associated with the neural signal. 
     
     
       53. The computer program product of  claim 50  comprising determining an absolute value of one of the samples of the neural signal. 
     
     
       54. The computer program product of  claim 53  comprising comparing the absolute value to the threshold value. 
     
     
       55. The computer program product of  claim 53  comprising detecting an action potential when the absolute value is greater than the threshold value. 
     
     
       56. The computer program product of  claim 53  comprising detecting a first action potential after a refractory period expires since a second action potential, wherein the second action potential occurs prior to the first action potential and on the same channel. 
     
     
       57. The computer program product of  claim 45  comprising conditioning the neural signal. 
     
     
       58. The computer program product of  claim 57  wherein the conditioning is a function selected from the group consisting of amplify, filter, multiplex, and digitize. 
     
     
       59. The computer program product of  claim 45  comprising receiving the information signal for controlling a device selected from the group consisting of an actuator, a prosthetic device, and a computer system. 
     
     
       60. The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein calculating a threshold value based on the neural signal comprises:
 (i) determining a mean of absolute values of samples of the neural signal; and 
 (ii) setting the threshold value as a scaled value of the determined mean. 
 
     
     
       61. The computer program product of  claim 60  comprising periodically determining the mean and setting the threshold value. 
     
     
       62. The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein calculating a threshold value based on the neural signal comprises:
 (i) determining a mean of absolute values of derivatives of samples of the neural signal; and 
 (ii) setting the threshold value as a scaled value of the determined mean. 
 
     
     
       63. The computer program product of  claim 45  comprising determining when a value of the neural signal exceeds the threshold value to detect when the action potential occurs. 
     
     
       64. The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein comparing the threshold value to the neural signal comprises comparing the threshold value to an absolute value of the neural signal, and wherein detecting when the action potential occurs comprises detecting when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the absolute value of the neural signal. 
     
     
       65. The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein comparing the threshold value to the neural signal comprises comparing the threshold value to an absolute value of derivatives of the neural signal, and wherein detecting when the action potential occurs comprises detecting when the action potential occurs based on the comparison of the threshold value to the absolute value of the derivatives of the neural signal. 
     
     
       66. The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein transmitting an information signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the information signal.